Philippine Coral Reefs

Local Pinoy scientists who diligently watch and monitor Philippines under sea wealth of natural resources, recently reports a breaking news of pending under sea catastrophe that will explode under the Philippine area of responsibility causing the dearth of marine life in the Philippine seas wherein eventually it will affect greatly Philippine Marine Industry and Philippine Tourism industry. Soon, if this pending under sea danger is left un check, there would be no more “galunggong” and “tilapia” on every Pinoy’s plate and no more fishing and scuba activities. Yap the continual bleaching coral reefs will wipe out and rift off the Marine life on the Philippine waters if left unsolved. It is indeed a catastrophe in the making and that need Philippine utmost attention.

Bleaching Coral Reefs

So, what is this bleaching effect all about? According to marine expert, it is the whitening of coral reefs from once techno-color features and characteristics into a loss of vibrant colors. The loss of vibrant colors and turning into whitish color connotes illness and lack of life and vigor and a nearing death or demise. If coral reefs shrink to death, what will happen to the fish and aquatic life that relies on the vigor of the coral reefs? Either they will succumb to death or migrate outside the Philippine seas into bodies of water where coral reefs are richly alive. For all we know that coral reefs is the source of food and sanctuary of fish and aquatic life.

Coral Reefs

The bleaching is caused by the change in temperature that causes the death of a marine organism called zooxanthellae which gives the corals colors and vibrant.

There are many areas in the Philippines that have been reported experiencing this aquatic phenomenon, like the El Nido beach in Palawan Philippines, the Calatagan beach, Nasugbu Batangas, and others.

So what must Filipinos do to combat this pending danger on Philippine marine industry and Philippine tourism?

According to the expert, there are three ways how to combat it merely:

1. Effective reduction of the stressors that stress the coral reefs, which could be manmade or not. This could include chemicals and pollution in the water cause by dynamic fishing and garbage dumping on the bodies of water.

Stressor

2. Do an effective recovery and restoration program.

3. Wait for the coral reefs to recover naturally and monitor for stressors that could impede and hinder their speedy recovery.